Taccia Ukiyo-e Hokusai Fukaki-hanada — Ink Review #246
Taccia Hokusai-fukakihanada
Ink Review # 246
Originally posted on FPN: May 20, 2026
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🧾 Description
Ink: Fukaki-hanada
Brand: Taccia Ukiyo-e series.
Availability: 40 ml bottles.
Country: Japan
Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ stub 1.1), Karas Customs with a FPnibs flex with ebonite feed.
What’s in a name?
Ukiyo-e art was a genre of woodblock printing and painting that flourished in Japan in the Edo period (1603–1868).
This ink is inspired by the great Japanese printmaker Hokusai (1760–1849), specifically the gorgeous blue of Kajikazawa in Kai Province one of his Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji prints.
The name Fukaki-hanada translates roughly to deep hanada, with fukaki meaning deep and hanada referring to a traditional Japanese indigo-blue color name.
While the colour is not my type, after reviewing too many inks, lacking in the lubrication department, it was a pleasure to have a wet, juicy ink for once.
It looks best on Japanese white paper. It shines on Iroful. Dry times are moderately long. Shading is subtle.
It has decent water resistance.
What I liked most in this ink was copying the prints of the Japanese master Hokusai and blending them with my own style.
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🧪 Chroma
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✍️ Writing Samples (photos LED and daylight)
Translations from language are provided for reference only and may differ from published versions.
Rhodia dotpad
“If I could only have one more day, I could do a great painting.” — Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), Japanese artist
Iroful
“The sea is emotion incarnate; it loves, hates, and weeps in its own quiet way.” — Natsume Sōseki (1867–1916), Japanese writer
Midori MD Codex
“Loneliness is the beginning of all freedom.” — Kuki Shūzō (1888–1941), Japanese philosopher
Tomoe River 68gsm (Taroko Design Notebook)
Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced n reviews.
“You prick up your ears to the blue of the sea” — Tatsuji Miyoshi (1900–1964), Japanese poet
“That is why the sea is deep blue / the sky is, therefore, deep blue” — Tatsuji Miyoshi (1900–1964), Japanese poet
Closeup
🔍 Comparison
Col-O-ring swatches. Scans are approximate.
💧 Water Test
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🎨 Artwork
Breakfast at Tiffanys
This is surreal interpretation of a photo of praying mantis basking in the sun. with fountain pen ink with my cat & mouse theme.
Jacques Herbin Roulle d'Ancre (pink), Cacao du Brésil, Taccia Fukaki-hanada (blue), Canson Mixed Media Paper.
Homage to Hokusai: Fujimigahara
An homage to Hokusai’s Fujimigahara, with my Cat & Mouse theme. The cat’s eye is subtly suggested by the hoop.
Taccia Fukaki-hanada, Jacques Herbin Cacao du Brésil, Platinum Carbon Black, Canson Mixed Media paper.
Homage to Hokusai's Kajikazawa in Kai Province
I used a water brush and then drew with the fountain pen to create the ink effects with my cat-and-mouse theme.
Taccia Fukaki- hanada, Octopus W&D Green Eagle, Strathmore Watercolour paper.
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- Writing Experience: Excellent.
- What I Liked: Lubrication, drawing with. Ink washes, water resistance.
- What I Did Not Like: Not my favorite shade of blue.
🧷 Ink Characteristics
- Shading: Paper dependant. Best on Iroful and Tomoe River.
- Ghosting: Yes, on copy paper.
- Bleed Through: Yes, on copy paper.
- Flow Rate: Wet.
- Lubrication: Very good.
- Nib Dry-out: Ok.
- Start-up: No problems.
- Saturation: Yes.
- Sheen: Did not notice.
- Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: A bit on copy paper.
- Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.
- Staining (Pen):
- Clogging: No.
- Cleaning: Super easy.
- Water Resistance: Decent.
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💬 Closing
This is an excellent ink by Taccia with a unique shade of blue, good lubrication and decent water-resistance.
No fountain pens were harmed in preparing this review. ;)
Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier. :)
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